Improved oar-coupling



uitrit ttttes geteilt ffies.

IMPROVED GAR-GOUPLING.

@its rinhnle nicht tt it tinte `Enten @tout mit meting not tt tige sinne.

ooo

re ALL WHoM IT MAY coNonRN:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. CONNER, of Odin, Marion county, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improved Car-Coupling, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents c side elevation of two of my couplings, with the side plates removed, showing the -Y nrrow-headed draw-bars. p

Figure 2 represents a side elevation of one et' my couplings, with the side plate removed, and an old-style coupling, showing the hook ofmy coupling.

Figure 3 represents atop View of one ci' my arrow-headed draw-bars and hook.

Similar letters indicate like parts. y

My invention contemplates a car-coupling which shall couple automatically, and Vbc uncouplcd wit-hout: requiring any one to go between the cars.

It consists of two arrevr-headed draw-hars A A', iig. 1, and A, figs. 2 and 3, coupling on to the back You top oi' each other by the following operations: A car provided with my coupling being bnekelldown upon another having my invention attached, both of the draw-bars resting upon the pins 6 Z2', fig. 1, and I), fig. 2, the car having the higher draw-bar will make thc coupling, as shown in iig. 1. The draw-bar A being the higher, its point will strike the top ofthe draw-bar'l, ond slide up, moving the pnwl c backpast the saine, n 'hich will then drop behind the `shoulder e of the arrow-head, rmly locking the coupling. Had the cai-hearing the draw bar A. been the higher the operation would have been reversed, the arrow-head A then passing on' top of the other, and being locked bythe pawl c. It is not necessary that one draw-bar should be greatly higher than the` other', since, if there is any difference in height, the arrow shape of the heads will insure the one slipping on top' of the other. In order to unlock the coupling, the draw-head is provided with a. crank, d df, fig. 1, and lifting-rods e e attached, which rod and crank', when lifted, will release the arrow-head. And further to insure the perfect freedom of the arrow-heads when unlocked to glide off, the under portionV of same'is hcvelled, as `shown at fj, iig. 1, and f', iig. 2, while the coupling is insured by rounding the edges of the side plates and chamfering the edge of the arrow-heads, as shown at 7L, iig. 3, so `that shouldthe cars come-together at an angle the draw-heads will nevertheless glide to their proper places. The pawl and rod, being of iron, will by their own weight fall so that the crank will he perpendicular; but the pawl being keyed on the shaft at a slight'angle, when the arrowhead makes the coupling and comes up to a horizontal position, will be lifted, instead ci' trigging the arrowhead down, as it otherwise might. In order that a car with my coupling may 'unite' with one ofv the oldstyle, I construct my draw-bar with a slot, freni the heel to within ashort distance of the head, and have a hook, lo k, fig. 1,'and lo, figs. 2 and 3, playing freely in the same, which can by means of the hand befrnade to catch the link of the common coupling, as shown at m, iig. 2, and may be unconpled in the 'saine manner. I

vThe advantages of my invention consist, as .shown above, in the facility and certainty with which cars, whether of the same 0 1' different heights, can be coupled automatically, and -uncoupled without exposing the operator to vthe danger of going between the cars. The advantage of this is seen particularly when it isdesired to couple on to a foreign car. Unlike other automatic couplings, mine will work equally well when cars approach at an angle, on account of the bevelling and ehamfering described above, and the great play given vthe draw-bars by reason-of their length.- The free play which the bars have will obviate the danger of uncopling on account of the jumping of the cars while in motion, which is a great defect in most self-couplings. The length oi' the hook and the consequent play given it render it superior to the o hl method 'of coupling.'

I do not claim to be the first inventor of 'en automatic car-coupling, nor of the use-.of arrowheaded drawbars; but what I do cla-im as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-.

1. The arrow-heads A. A, the hooks 1c le', the cranks d d', the lifting-rods e c', the. pawls e e', and side plates R R", all in combination, when constructed and-arranged substantially ns shown und specified. I

The construction of the slotted draw-bar A, in'combination with the hook'lc, when constructed and arranged substantially as shown and specified. I Y

y T.' F. CONNER.

Witnesses:

SAM'L S. Born, HENRY T. CARTER. 

